DEAR SUN SPOTS: Why does Channel 13 give the same news from 5 to 5:30 p.m., then change people, repeat all the same news from 5:30 to 6 p.m., then back at 6 p.m. to repeat it all over again? Why waste one-and-a-half hours on repeats?

Watch news at 6 p.m. on Channel 8, and it only takes a half hour. I won’t watch it anymore. I’ll wait until 11 p.m. for the news.

Also, could I get the address of the Hannaford stores main office? I think they’re in Scarborough. Thanks a lot. — Lola, Peru

ANSWER: Sun Spots doesn’t think that Channel 13 producers expect anyone to watch the evening news three times. Rather, they are rebroadcasting to accommodate people’s differing work and school schedules. Gone are the days when the entire family sat down to watch the news at the same time.

Also, producing news is extremely expensive, so by broadcasting it three times, they get more bang for their bucks. As to why the different newscasters for each show: Being on camera, with all the hot lights, is tiring. Switching newscasters around gives them a break.

You may see a change in Channel 8’s schedule after “Oprah” ends. She and “Dr. Phil” are rating powerhouses, so Channel 8 has no reason to run news from 5 to 6 p.m., when they have those two shows back to back.

You can write to Hannaford at 145 Pleasant Hill Road, Scarborough, ME 04074-9309, 883-2911, 800-213-9040.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Why is the Channel 13 news on at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday night rather than 6 p.m.? — No Name, Bethel

ANSWER: Sun Spots speculates that football and other sports are delaying the broadcast of the news at its normal time.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: I have two questions for you. Ken Curtis played Festus on “Gunsmoke.” Did he also play Ernest T. on “The Andy Griffith Show?”

Someone said Susan Lucci, who plays Erica on “All My Children” is the daughter of Phyllis Diller. Is that correct? — No Name, Sabattus

ANSWER: According to the Internet movie database www.imdb.com, actor Howard Morris played Ernest on eight episodes of “Andy Griffith” in the early 1960s.

No, it is not true that Susan Lucci is the daughter of Phyllis Diller. There are many rumors/urban legends that get started around celebrities. Most can be debunked by visiting Snopes.com.

The following biographical information appears on www.imdb.com:

“Susan Lucci was born Dec. 23, 1946, in Scarsdale, N.Y., although she grew up in Garden City. … She always wanted to be a performer, and through her teenage years, took voice lessons, dance lessons, and participated in community theater. In high school she was the ideal student: took many honors classes, was a cheerleader, staff writer for the school newspaper, was a foreign exchange student to Norway, and performed in the school musicals, including lead roles in ‘Oklahoma’ and ‘The King and I.’

“After graduating with honors from Garden City High School, she was accepted and attended Marymount College in Tarrytown, N.Y., which was noted for its theater program. After graduating with a BFA in theater arts, she moved to New York City, and began going to auditions.”

“One of her first jobs was that of a color girl for CBS. Every day she would report to the studio, and sit on a stool as technicians developed the new color cameras. Most of her acting work consisted of Off-Broadway understudy roles, day-player roles on soap operas, and extra and stand-in work for movies.

“In 1969 … she auditioned for a brand new soap opera that was to be called “All My Children” (1970). She landed the role of Erica Kane, which is still considered by many critics to be one of the best roles on television written for women.”

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